US3703604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat conductor transmission cable
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-30
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1991-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A flat shielded cable comprising a plurality of parallel spacedapart signal conductors in a first plane and a shield member in the form of a conductive ground plane facing said signal conductors and being positioned in a second plane, the shield member having preselected amounts of conductive material removed in the area opposite the signal conductors. By varying the amount of shield member surface area facing the signal conductors, the capacitance between the signal conductors and the ground plane can be significantly altered to thereby control the characteristic impedance of the cable. At the terminating ends of the cable, a zone devoid of conductive material extends transversely across the ground plane in the vicinity of the signal conductors. This zone permits the interconnection of the signal conductors to suitable connector means while preventing electrical contact between the connector contact members, which engage the signal conductors, and the ground plane. To provide impedance matching between the connector and cable ends, the zone is bridged by thin conductive strips integral to the ground plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Homer Ernst Henschen
- 👤 Dale Richard Zell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/65; H01R12/67; H01R12/68; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/08; H01B7/0838; H01P; H01P3/00; H01P3/02; H01P3/08; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0216; H05K1/0218; H05K1/0224; H05K1/0237; H05K1/025; H05K1/0253; H05K1/03; H05K1/0393; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/07; H05K2201/0707; H05K2201/0715; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09209; H05K2201/09654; H05K2201/09663; H05K2201/0969
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A flat cable comprising: a plurality of flat parallel spaced-apart signal conductors lying in a single plane a plurality of parallel flat shield conductors lying in a plane parallel to the single plane of said signal conductors, said shield conductors extending parallel to said signal conductors and being laterally offset from said signal conductors, said shield conductors having a width which is no greater than the spacing between said signal conductors whereby edge portions of said shield conductors do not overlap edge positions of said signal conductors, and insulating material between said conductors and encasing said conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A flat cable comprising: a plurality of flat parallel spaced-apart signal conductors lying in a single plane a plurality of parallel flat shield conductors lying in a plane parallel to the single plane of said signal conductors, said shield conductors extending parallel to said signal conductors and being laterally offset from said signal conductors, said shield conductors having a width which is no greater than the spacing between said signal conductors whereby edge portions of said shield conductors do not overlap edge positions of said signal conductors, and insulating material between said conductors and encasing said conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
A flat cable comprising: a plurality of flat parallel spaced-apart signal conductors lying in a single plane a plurality of parallel flat shield conductors lying in a plane parallel to the single plane of said signal conductors, said shield conductors extending parallel to said signal conductors and being laterally offset from said signal conductors, said shield conductors having a width which is no greater than the spacing between said signal conductors whereby edge portions of said shield conductors do not overlap edge positions of said signal conductors, and insulating material between said conductors and encasing said conductors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
A flat cable comprising: a plurality of flat parallel spaced-apart signal conductors lying in a single plane a plurality of parallel flat shield conductors lying in a plane parallel to the single plane of said signal conductors, said shield conductors extending parallel to said signal conductors and being laterally offset from said signal conductors, said shield conductors having a width which is no greater than the spacing between said signal conductors whereby edge portions of said shield conductors do not overlap edge positions of said signal conductors, and insulating material between said conductors and encasing said conductors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A cable as set forth in claim 1, each of said signal conductors having an enlarged contact pad at its end, said pads being adjacent to, and spaced from, one end of said cable, said shield conductors having reduced width portions in the vicinity of said pads, a continuous layer of shielding material at the end of said cable, said reduced width shield conductors extending to said continuous layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cable as set forth in claim 2 having electrical contact terminals crimped onto said pads, each of said terminals being between adjacent reduced width portions of said shield conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A cable as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said contact terminals comprises a generally channel crimp portion having a web and sidewalls, said web having a width which is substantially equal to the width of one of said pads, said web being against said cable and said sidewalls extending through said cable in straddling relationship to said pad, said sidewalls being reversely formed towards each other and towards said web and being in engagement with said pads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cable as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a commoning strip interconnecting said shield conductors in the vicinity of said reduced width portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cable as set forth in claim 1 and a second cable which is identical to said cable, said cables being separated by a layer of plastic foam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A flat cable configuration comprising a first and second cable each constructed as claimed in claim 1, said first and second cables positioned in parallel planes and being spaced from each other and further including insulating material in said space between the cables.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The flat cable configuration of claim 7 wherein said insulating material is plastic foam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The flat cable configuration of claim 7 wherein the signal conductors of said first cable are positioned opposite the signal conductors of said second cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The flat cable configuration of claim 7 wherein the signal conductors of said first cable are positioned opposite said shield conductors of said second cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |